President's Report

President’s Report –– March 2007

Kia Ora

Reception and Dinner for Prime Minister Helen Clark. The Council was honored that the Embassy accepted our offer to host the Prime Minister on her March 20-21, 2007 trip to Washington to meet with President Bush. With only three weeks notice following the official announcement of the trip, we were fortunate to secure the Roof Terrace of the Hay-Adams Hotel as the reception venue. On a clear sunny day, which March 20 turned out to be, this is the most spectacular setting in Washington – across Lafayette Square, with a clear view of the White House and beyond to the Washington Monument, Jefferson Memorial and down the Potomac. A large turnout of friends and admirers of New Zealand enjoyed the early spring evening, outstanding hors d’oeuvres and wine, and meeting the Prime Minister, who later addressed the guests.

Following the reception, her official party, the two Ambassadors, and a small number of US Government officials, Members of Congress, corporate sponsors and Council officials gathering in a Hay-Adams private dining room for a dinner hosted by the Council. Under Secretary of State Paula Dobriansky offered a toast from the American side to which the Prime Minister responded. Both events were sponsored by Council members Boeing, Pernod Ricard, and Time Warner. We are extremely grateful for their support. Having had the privilege of introducing the Prime Minister and sitting with her at dinner, I can report that she and the entire New Zealand party were generous in their praise for the evening and their thanks to the Council. We, in turn, want to thank the many board and corporate members and friends of the Council who found time in their busy schedules to help make the evening a resounding success. Official accounts suggest that the Prime Minister’s meetings with President Bush, Secretaries Gates and Rice and Speaker Pelosi, among others went extremely well.

Awards to Fred Benson and Peter Watson. At the reception, Prime Minister Helen Clark formally presented to former Council President Fred Benson his award as an Honorary Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, which had been announced in January by the Queen, citing Fred’s services to NZ-US relations. In addition to being richly deserved, the award brings great honor to the Council.

Council Board Member Peter Watson has been twice honored this year in New Zealand. At a gala dinner in Auckland in early February, Peter received the Smithsonian Institution’s Woodrow Wilson Center’s Award for Public Service. Later in February, Peter was recognized at another Auckland dinner, receiving a Distinguished Alumni Award from Auckland University. Hearty congratulations to Peter and to Fred.

Partnership Forum. Preparations for the second US-NZ Partnership Forum to be held in Auckland September 9-11, 2007 are progressing well. The principal venue will be the newly constructed event centre at the Auckland Museum, a spectacular setting with panoramic views of Auckland. The Hilton Hotel on the Auckland waterfront within the “America’s Cup Village” created for the Cup events in 2000 and 2003, will provide accommodations and be the venue for the official dinner. The Forum will begin with a traditional welcoming “powhiri” in the Museum’s Maori hall. On September 11 there will be a solemn commemoration at the Museum’s war memorials in memory of the victims of terrorism and war. In addition, the event will offer pre and post Forum opportunities for American participants to experience the natural beauty, recreational opportunities and culture of New Zealand. About one-third of an exceptional US delegation is confirmed to participate. I will give a further report on the Forum shortly.

Parliamentary Friendship Group Visit. Stephen Jacobi, Executive Director of the NZ-US Council is coordinating a visit by the Co-Chairs of the newly formed Parliamentary Friendship Group for the US – National Party MP Gerry Brownlee and Labour Party MP Shane Jones. They likely will visit Washington in July and meet, inter alia, with Representatives Ellen Tauscher and Kevin Brady, Co-Chairs of the NZ Caucus in the House. Ms. Tauscher, Mr. Brady, and former Co-Chair Jim Kolbe attended the dinner for the Prime Minister. Mr. Jacobi and Mike Hearn, Executive Director of the American Chamber in NZ attended events for the Prime Minister in Washington, Chicago and Seattle.

Kind regards, John